LG Autonomy: NULGE Urges Lawmakers On Speedy Passage

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Delta State Chapter, has called on members of the Delta State House of Assembly to expedite actions that will lead to the speedy passage of the bill seeking to legalize the autonomy of local governments in the state.

The union, in a statement issued at the end of its State Executive Council meeting, noted that there could be no better time to pass the bill into law than now when all local government areas in the country are in dire of wholesome development, adding that the autonomy of local governments will bring governance to the door steps of the masses.

According to the statement signed by the State President of NULGE, Comrade Ziko Okwudi, “If Nigerians are really concerned about infrastructural development, security, job creation and overall well-being of the Nigeria state, then the autonomy of local governments would certainly be a guarantee for these”.

“We therefore urge all Nigerians, particularly Deltans, to throw their weight behind this national discourse to secure autonomy for local governments.  There is no better time than now. Thus we urge members of the House of Assembly to vote in favour of this bill as they will be reconvening soon”, the union added.

NULGE commended the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for pledging their support for the speedy passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill, urging them to make good their promises as soon as possible.

The union also condemned what it described as “the monstrous and arbitrary dismissal of more than four thousand workers of the Unified Local Government Service of Kaduna state without recourse to due process or laid down civil service rules of disengagement” and called on the Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir El Rufai to immediately rescind the dismissal order.

The union also berated President Muhammadu Buhari for consenting to the sack of the workers, noting that the president’s body language has cast doubts over the sincerity of the promises by the All Progressives Congress led federal government to revamp the economy by creating and sustaining job opportunities.